By HEATHER RUPPE
State officials are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Walterboro last week. According to information provided by the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), an officer with the Walterboro Police Department fired shots at an armed man following a traffic stop. That suspect fled the scene and did not appear to be injured.
The man is still not identified and has not yet been found, as of press deadline on Tuesday.
The officer involved in the incident is on paid leave, pending the results of the investigation. That officer’s identity is not being released and there is no copy of the incident report available that is associated with the initial traffic stop or confrontation, according to Walterboro Police Department Spokeswoman Sgt. Tavara Edwards.
Details of the entire incident are limited. However, according to information provided SELD, it is routine policy for SLED to interview any law enforcement officer when a shooting occurs. “When requested to investigate an OIS (Officer-Involved Shooting), SLED’s goal is to conduct a thorough, independent criminal investigation as timely as possible under the circumstances,” said Paul Ahearn, SLED spokesman. “SLED agents will conduct interviews with all potential witnesses in this matter.” Further, SLED will collect all relevant evidence and will forensically test such evidence as needed.”
This is an ongoing investigation, and no other information has been released. “As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SELD at this time,” Ahearn said, in a written statement.
This incident was the 35th officer-involved shooting in South Carolina so far in 2021. In 2020, there were 49 officer-involved shootings in the Palmetto State, according to SELD. None of the incidents in 2020 or in 2021 involved the Walterboro Police Department.
